Xavier must return to the scene of one of its lowest moments in this up-and-down season for its first-round National Invitation Tournament game.

The Musketeers are going back to Toledo for a 7 p.m. game Wednesday at Savage Hall  an arena where they heard chants of over-rated three months ago.

It was there, on Dec. 9, that the Rockets beat XU 74-67.

That dropped Xavier to 5-4. Coach Skip Prosser skipped his postgame radio show to spend time talking to his players.

At that time, Toledo was 7-0 and also had a victory over Ohio State.

Forward Greg Stempin looked like an All-American against the Musketeers, scoring 23 points. Robert Kizer added 10 points and 12 rebounds, and Art Norman came off the bench for 17 points and seven boards.

Xavier shot just 37.7 percent from the field and made only 3 of 17 three-pointers.

While the Musketeers won 10 in a row and went 16-6 after that loss, Toledo went on to win the Mid-American Conference West Division title and finish 19-8. The Rockets, however, did lose five of their last eight games, including two in a row.

The Musketeers may come into the game with a chip on their shoulders about being left out of the NCAA Tournament; Toledo might be a little more appreciative.

It has been 18 years since the Rockets were in a postseason tournament. They beat American and lost to Michigan in the 1981 NIT.